Fund the Training of Novice Sisters in Burkina Faso Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Project Code: 125-05-79

In Burkina Faso, as in most countries of sub-Saharan Africa, the Church is still relatively young, although the first Catholic missionaries came here in the year 1900. This country of Western Africa whose name, translated, means "Land of honorable people," has a population of roughly 16 million, of whom some 20% are Christian (12% of them Catholic). Roughly half the population is Muslim, while nearly one third belong to traditional African religions.

As in many other African countries, there are plenty of new vocations. The women’s congregations in particular enjoy a regular influx of new applicants. Currently there are over 1,400 Catholic religious women serving God and their neighbors in this country in a variety of different situations. But they need a lot of help, since Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world.

One such congregation that enjoys many new vocations is the local community of the Annunciation Sisters in Bobo-Dioulasso in the southwest, the second largest city in the country. At present there are 14 novices and 15 postulants preparing to take their vows in the congregation and to work in the dioceses and parishes of the country, above all in catechesis and youth work. Their formation house, where these young women will spend three years in training, is nearly 6 miles from the city of Bobo-Dioulasso, which is also the center of the diocese of the same name.

ACN would like to help this young congregation with the formation of its 14 novices as it has in previous years, this time with a contribution of $10,500. Will you give to help us keep this promise to fund the training of novice Sisters in Burkina Faso? We are sure these future Sisters will gratefully remember you in their prayers.

Aid to the Church in Need commits to invest your funds where they will have the greatest impact for the Church that we serve. Funds donated to Aid to the Church in Need’s projects will be used towards the greatest need in our programs to help keep the Faith alive.